4. Research, Scholarship & Other Creative
Activity
4.1- Research Experience and
Achievements
My latest research interests and experience are related to the areas of
"image processing and computer vision”. I worked with a) static 2D
images; b) stereo pairs of images for stereo matching; c) sequences of images
to estimate the motion of a moving object using Time-Frequency Signal Analysis
(TFSA) techniques; d) Image obtained from laser range finders for 3D surface
reconstruction, and the estimation of sensor errors and their propagation
during the process of reconstruction; e) and lately on the processing of Volume
Images (CT, MRI images). More specific details are given below regarding my
previous research.
1. Vision System and Neural Networks:
Part of my past research activities were devoted to the design and
implementation of a Structural-based Vision System for Automatic Target
Recognition. The different blocks of this system are:
- A phase-based technique for
motion estimation to separate moving targets from non-moving
objects. The global velocities of the different targets allow the
user to select a particular one. This specified target is then used
as an input to the rest of the vision system whose role is to identify the
object (see publication J4). The theoretical relation of this
technique to the Time-Frequency Signal Analysis (T.F.S.A) techniques
appeared in few publications.
- Edge Detection: To reduce
the amount of information for a faster recognition. I have developed
a novel edge detector based on the theory of "distributed detection
problems" to relax a compromise, which appears in most of the
classical edge detectors, between an accurate localization of the edges
and a good immunity to noise (see publications J5 and In4).
- Part-segmentation: I have
developed a novel algorithm to extract the Convex Dominant Points (CDPs)
of an object described by its contour based on an idea similar to the edge
detection algorithm mentioned above. These extracted CDPs are then
used to decompose the object into parts (see publications).
- Identification of the
parameters of the parts (obtained from the part segmentation block)
modeled by superquadrics. This is done
using the Multi-Layer Perceptron, which is a
popular neural network. This stage is performed after the extraction
of the invariant moments of each part (see publications J5 and I49).
- The structural
description of the object: The parameters of each part and the spatial
relationship between them allow us to recognize the object. This
vision system has been successfully implemented and tested. A
recognition rate close to 100% has been obtained independently of the
orientation, size or position of the target. Among the advantages of
this suggested vision system is its modularity, which makes it open to a
continual improvement, and the possibility to generalize the system to the
multi-dimensional case (see publications J2 and I47).
2. Control Theory:
My research during the Masters degree was in Control theory, in
particular:
- Derivation of an Algorithm
to compute the Interactor Matrix, which is used
extensively in the control of Multivariable Systems.
- Adaptive Decoupling of
Multivariable Systems. The control of multivariable systems has
applications in many practical areas, such as Aerospace and Avionics,
Robotics and the control of Chemical plants.
3. Other Past Research Topics:
My other past research topics were in Obstacle Avoidance (This work was appeared
in Bennamoun et al., “Avoidance of Unknown Obstacles Using Proximity Fields”,
IEEE/RSJ International Workshop on Intelligent Robots and Systems '91, Osaka,
Japan, 1991. not listed) and Robotics. I also initiated research on
Arabic and Japanese word recognition in the Signal Processing Research Centre,
QUT (see publication: R. F. Walker, M. Bennamoun and B. Boashash,
"Comparative Results on Arabic Character Recognition Using Artificial Neural
Networks”, not listed.). This research has a large number of applications.
Another Master by Research student (Mr. A. Cheung) pursued this topic under my
supervision in the SCSN to develop a fully functional OCR with theoretical
contribution which appeared in few refereed conferences and a journal paper
(see publications J9 and I18 for example).
4. Current Research:
My current research interests are related to the activities of the Image
Processing Group in the Space Centre for Satellite Navigation. They include: 1)
the development of novel Stereo Matching techniques and the reliability of the
disparity maps (Ms. Jasmine Banks, Ph.D. graduate worked on this topic in
collaboration with the CSIRO Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies,
and the CRC for Mining Technology and Equipment). See list of publications
related to this topic. 2) The use of Texture Analysis techniques to
localize flaws in textile fabrics (A Ph.D. graduate worked on this topic). We
were successful in obtaining a large national competitive research grant in
collaboration with an industrial partner, and a QUT research grant (see list of
grants in section 6.2). Many publications resulted from this work. 3) 3D
Surface Reconstruction (Mr. John Williams, Ph.D. student is currently working
on this topic). We were successful in obtaining a QUT research grant on this
topic and many publications resulted from this work. Recently,
4) Recognition of 3D free form objects, and 4) Volume Image Processing.
In addition, I still have interest in few past topics of research, such as
motion estimation and vision systems for object recognition. This work was
cited in Rosenfeld’s survey, and as a result I
was invited to write a book on the subject.
4.2- Research Grants (Accepted)
- M. Bennamoun, F. Sohel, F.
Flitti and M. Hahn, “Thermal city inventory by means of Gyrocopter TIR
image flights” DAAD-Go8 Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation
Scheme. Amount received: $20,765.
- J. Wang, and M. Bennamoun, “Optimal Integration of Multi-Sensors with
Three Dimensional Map for Robust Navigation”, The University of New South
Wales (UNSW) Goldstar 2009 Award (ARC Discovery
Near Miss grant), 2009.Amount received: $40,000.
- M. Bennamoun, D. Huynh, and
R. Owens, “Markerless 3D pose recovery of
humans from video”, ARC Discovery grant application 2007-2009
(submitted in March 2006). Amount received: $257,000.
- M. Bennamoun et al. (14 investigators
in total), “3D Scanning and Printing Facilities (3DSPF)”, ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and
Facilities (LIEF) grant. ARC amount received: $150,000. Total amount
received including contribution from UWA and partner institutions:
$430,000.
- M. Bennamoun and R. Owens, “Unified
Representations of Multimodal Biometrics for Robust Authentication and Identification”,
ARC Discovery Grant, 2006-2008. Amount received: $356,000.
- D. Roberts, M. Bennamoun, “Automated
Frog Call Identification System for Australia”, Australian Biological
Resources Survey (ABRS) grant, 2005, Australian Department of Environment
& Heritage. Amount received: $40,000.
- Chief Investigator on the
application for the Centre of E-Medecine (A
Western-Australian Centre of Excellence) launched in 2005. I was able
through this initiative to secure one postdoctoral fellow and one
postgraduate scholarship that I offered to three colleagues from the
Computer Vision Group in the School
of CSSE, UWA.
- Participant in the ARC
Network in Imaging Science & Technology (NIST) bid in 2003. The
network received a Seed funding of $10,000.
- M. Bennamoun “Segmentation
and Modelling of the Hippocampus from MRI Images”
The University of Western Australia Research
Grant (UWARG) Scheme. Amount received $19,000.
- M. Bennamoun, “An
Automated 3D model-based Object Recognition Sytem”,
ARC Discovery Grant, 2003. Total amount $242,040.
- M. Bennamoun,
"Automatic 3D Scene Reconstruction from 2D Stereo Image
Sequences", The University of Western Australia (UWA) Startup grant,
2003. Total amount: $29,754.
- K. Kubik,
M. Bennamoun and J. Williams, "Automated Vector Extraction from
Airborne Laser Scan Data", ARC Linkage with AAM GeoScan,
2002-2003. Amount received: $45,000.
- M. Bennamoun, "Stereo
Vision System for Automatic 3D Scene Reconstruction from 2D Stereo Image
Sequences", Faculty funding of “near miss” ATN Small Grant
applications, 2002. Amount received: $7,000.
- M. Bennamoun, "A 3D Vision System for Automatic Object
Recognition", QUT ATN Small Research grants, 2001. Amount received:
$9,500.
- N. Bergmann, and M.
Bennamoun, "Geometric Validation of Manufactured Objects for Quality
Control in Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Environments", QUT ATN
Small Research grants, 2001: Amount received: $8,000.
- M. Bennamoun, "Virtual
Reconstruction of 3 Dimensional (3D) Objects", QUT, BEE Special
Projects for Staff, 2000, $4970.
- M. Bennamoun, “Development
of 3D Modeling and Recognition Techniques for Use in a Visualization System
Designed for Persons suffering from Severe Visual Impairment”, ARC
Small Grant Scheme, 2000, $14,000.
- M. Bennamoun, “Development
of Novel Deformable/Non-Rigid Registration Methods Capable of Aligning 3D
Multi-Modal Medical Images for Computer Integrated Surgery and Therapy Applications”,
QUT Pilot, $10,000.
- A. Maeder,
and M. Bennamoun, “Development of a Novel Hybrid Stereo Matching
Algorithm for use in Automated Navigation Systems”, ARC Small Grant
Scheme, 2000, $12,000.
- D. Iskander,
M. Collins, and M. Bennamoun, “Modeling the Directionality of
Photoreceptors from the Human Retina as a Function of Monchromatic
Aberrations. QUT Research Development Grant 2000, $9,000.
- N. Bergmann, M. Bennamoun, “An
Automated System for Visual Inspection and Flaw Detection in Textiles”,
ARC SPIRT grant scheme, Collaborative Research Project with a local
textile company, 1999-2000. Amount received: $116, 000.
- M. Bennamoun, N. Bergmann, “Real
Time Implementation of a Vision System for Quality Control”.
Australian Research Council (ARC) small grant scheme, 1999, $15,000.
- N. Bergmann, M. Bennamoun, “Surveying
and 3D Modeling of Mining Environments Using Laser Range Data”, QUT
Researcher Development Grant, 1999, $8,978.
- M. Bennamoun, B. Boashash, and M. Deriche, “Motion
Estimation using TFSA”, Dean Research Encouragement Grant for
Academics (DREGA), 1998, $11,000.
- M. Bennamoun, “Texture
Analysis for Automatic Visual Inspection and Flaw Detection in Textiles”,
QUT New Researcher Grant Scheme (NRGS), 1998, $8911.
- M. Bennamoun, B. Boashash and A.M. Zoubir,
"A Vision System for Automatic Object Recognition", QUT
Meritorious Projects Grants Scheme (MPGS), 1994, $17,000.
4.3- Research Grants (Pending)
NIL.
4.4 – Patents
J. Williams and M. Bennamoun, “A Method for the Simultaneous Rigid
Alignment of Multiple Point Sets”. Provisional Patent
Application PQ3985. Submitted on 12 November 1999.
Final patent application submitted on 12 November 2000.
A. Bodnarova, M. Bennamoun and S. Latham, "A Constrained Minimization Approach to
Optimize Gabor Filters for Detecting Flaws in Woven Textiles". Provisional Patent Application. Submitted
on 5 June 2000.
4.5- Centres
Membership and Responsibilities
- Director, Research Concentration in Computer
Vision and Automation, (RCCVA), QUT, March 2001-Present.
- Director, Space Centre for Satellite
Navigation (SCSN), QUT, Jan. 98-March 2001.
- Member of the Research Concentration in Computer
Vision and Automation, QUT, March 2001-Present.
- Member of the Space Centre for Satellite
Navigation, QUT, Jan.97-March 2001. Appointed as Director of the
Centre on the 1st of January 1998.
- Member of the Signal Processing Research Centre,
QUT. Worked in the Image Processing & Computer Vision Laboratory, and
the Robotics Laboratory.
- Robotics Laboratory, Queen’s
University, Canada,
from Jan. 1986-Dec. 1992.
4.6- Publications
and Invited Talks
- I hold publications in several
areas of engineering, including Robotics, Image Processing, Computer
Vision, Artificial Neural Networks, and Control Theory. I am the author of
one book, one book chapter, over 10 journal papers, 6 invited papers, one
keynote paper and more than 50 internationally refereed conference papers.
Few of my publications were cited in the famous and popular Rosenfeld’s survey. I usually co-author with my
Ph.D., Masters, or Final Year Project Students. My work was cited in
refereed conference and journal papers more than 20 times in the last 5
years (Science Citation Index).
- “Invited Speaker”
at the CORESA’2001 Conference held in Dijon, France
on the 12 and 13 of November 2001.
4.7 - Staff Student
Supervision
See Teaching Performance & Leadership in Sections 6.7, and 6.8. In
addition to students, I also successfully supervised three post-doctoral
fellows for one year in 2000-2001 (Dr. John Williams, Dr. Bruce Sloss, and Dr. Adriana. Bodnarova) and many research
assistants. Examples of Senior Research assistants include Mr. Shane
Latham (for more than a year), Mr. Andrew Parker (Feb.98-July98), and Mr. A.
Bower (for one year) to cite a few.
Last updated 9
January 2002
M. Bennamoun
CRICOS No 00126G